Chapter 362: “A Royal Statement”

(Classic Blackwood's POV)

The room was watching. Every pair of eyes—my father's, King Salman's, Christiana's, the royal council's—fixed on us. The weight of expectation was suffocating, but I had never been one to crumble under pressure.

If they wanted a show, I would give them one.

Turning to Amal, I met her gaze—steady, composed, yet questioning. She hadn't expected this. Neither had my father.

I reached for her hand, fingers brushing against her skin as I pulled her closer. She didn't resist.

Then, in front of her father, my family, and the most powerful people in the world—I kissed her.

It wasn't rushed or hesitant. It was calculated, deliberate, and commanding. A message.

To my father.

To King Salman.

To the world.

I was not a pawn in their game. I was playing my own.

As I pulled away, a flicker of something unreadable crossed Amal's face—shock? Amusement? Perhaps both. But she recovered quickly, her expression smoothing into regal composure.

King Salman remained silent, but his sharp gaze said enough. He had expected an obedient prince, not a ruler in his own right.

My father's reaction was even more measured. Emperor Chris Blackwood wasn't one to reveal his thoughts easily, but I knew him well enough to recognize that he had just learned something important:

I would not be controlled.

Christiana, however, was less reserved. Her arms were crossed, her expression tight. If she had any objections, she kept them to herself—for now.

I let go of Amal's hand, stepping back, my voice smooth but firm.

"This union is more than just an agreement. It is a future we will build together."

A bold statement. A challenge.

And from the way Amal's lips curved into a subtle, knowing smile, I knew she understood.

The game had shifted.

And I was the one moving the pieces.